Oz and the land of the wizard

Horst Wein, the German guru of modern hockey, once stated that masters and pupils reverse roles.

In the context of Australia’s 5-2 drubbing of India in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on Thursday, the former masters’ learning curve compares unfavourably to that of their once-pupils who had picked up the nuances like parched earth soaking in a downpour.

World Champions Australia, on a crest of success, have been the game’s most vibrant force for well over three decades. Their power packed innovative style contrasts the often loose, unimaginative and uninspired lumbering of the Indians, suffering from the chasm in physical reserves and mental focus so much needed on an artificial surface.

The Australians improvised on the first chapters way back in the late 1940s.

When India won Independence from British rule in 1947, Anglo-Indians, many of whom, harboured a fear of social dislocation migrated en masse to other parts of the Commonwealth.

An exodus went through Chennai by sea and, as fate would have it, Fremantle, near Perth, Western Australia, was their first port of call. They disembarked, began a new life Down Under, and, hockey-wise, spread the gospel that brought in the sleight-of-hand touch to the rugged hit-and-run European variety prevalent at the time.

Australian hockey, slowly but surely, transformed itself. Especially Western Australia, who dominated the domestic game for a generation, thanks to coaches like Merv Adams, among the first Anglo-Indians to influence the green-and-gold’s eventual domination of the podium.

As Anglo-Indian players, celebrating the legacy of the Wizard Dhyan Chand, worked their way into the hockey fabric, the evolution in playing styles so unique to Australia became identifiable.

The power and energy tempered by subtle stick skills and body feints that presented a player of the 1980s like Warren Birmingham, for example — every bit a centre-half of the subcontinent in terms of poise and style but with the added value of indefatigability and sharpness.

Birmingham is just one of scores donning the green-and-gold that brings to mind the profound influence of the migrant Indians.

In 2002, another came within a whisker of the pinnacle of distinctions but a 1-2 defeat to Germany deprived Paul Gaudoin of holding the World Cup aloft in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Gaudoin’s distinguished presence in the Australian team celebrated, among others, the legacy of the Pearce brothers. A quintet comprising Eric, Mel, Gordon, Julian and Cec, who, believe it not, represented Australia in a period from 1950-76. On occasions making up for three siblings in an Olympic squad!

Australia gave indications of a new order in 1964, winning their first ever Olympic medal — a bronze at Tokyo.

They went one better at Mexico City four years later finishing with the silver medal after accounting for their masters, India, in the semifinals — a feat that reduced the indomitables to the bronze medal playoff for the first time.

After a hiccup at Munich in 1972, they humbled India twice (6-1 in the first match) while reaching the final where they were shocked by neighbours New Zealand in the 1976 Montreal Olympic final.

Ever since then, the Aussies have made each and every Olympic and World Cup semifinal at least and their effervescence has raked in another silver, three more bronze and the elusive gold medal at Athens in 2004.

Add to this two World Cup titles, as many silver and four bronze medals a record of 11 Champion Trophy titles.

The attentive pupils have proven to be quick learners. But at what stage were the roles reversed?

You could say the answer could be found in a bundle of coaching energy in the Aussie dugout at the Major Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium.

Ric Charlesworth, arguably the most successful coach in the history of the sport, has a personal link to the metamorphosis.

As a 15-year-old, he watched his countrymen beat the revered Indians in Mexico City in 1968 and had said, "It fired my imagination. I would settle for no less than playing hockey for Australia at the Olympics."

Charlesworth had already soaked up the sublime skills of the Indian that blended well with a high hockey IQ well in sync with the Australian progressive style and method.

The part-time cricketer, doctor and Member of Parliament was soon to be acclaimed as the best player in the world and although he failed to win the Olympic gold medal, was adjudged player of the tournament and finished top scorer in the Australians’ maiden World Cup triumph at Willesden, England, 1986.

He took his remarkable credentials into coaching and up until now has guided the Hockeyroos (the Australian national women’s team) and the Kookaburras (the men’s team) to the gold medal in each and every World Cup and Olympic campaign he’s been in charge of.

He then turned his attention to India — the country he loves and the one he has often suggested he owes his remarkable hockey prowess to.

Sadly, the cycle from pupil to master, if Charlesworth is considered an epitome of such a dynamism, never ever received a stamp of approval.

Forces of dissension, snubbed his offer and appointment as coach of India two years ago and he left, pretty much broken hearted to lend his tutelage to the country of his birth.

The one that yet again taught India pertinent lessons in New Delhi on Saturday.

SOME ANGLO-INDIANS WHO HAVE INFLUENCED AUSTRALIAN HOCKEY

Coaches

* Denis Dunbar: Studied at St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling. Played for Calcutta Customs in 1922 when they won the Beighton Cup. In the late 20s moved to South Australia and played for the top Forestville Club. In 1929 he moved to Western Australia and played for the leading Suburban Hockey Club. After retiring he coached and lectured in Western Australia for many years. He was coach of the West Australian State women’s team in 1934 and 1936.

* Fred Browne: Coached Australia at the 1952 Melbourne Olympics.Also played for Australia before that. Studied At La Martiniere College,Lucknow.

* Merv Adams: Studied at La Martiniere College, Lucknow. Coached Old Modernians Hockey Club in Perth before coaching Western Australia to many Australian titles.Eventually was coach of the Australia men’s team and finally the women’s team.

* A special mention must also go to Trevor Vanderputt of Calcutta and Delhi. He never played for Australia but made his mark as a coach. He coached in Western Australia,Victoria and was Director of Coaching in the Australian Capital Territory.

Author

Errol D'Cruz finds himself in football-mad Goa as a special correspondent but the Beautiful Game is just one of the many passions he holds in the sporting world -- hockey and cricket are the others in a long list.

Errol D'Cruz finds himself in football-mad Goa as a special correspondent but the Beautiful Game is just one of the many passions he holds in the sporting w. . .